10 Clever Uses for Baking Soda

So, it turns-out that baking soda has a million other uses besides just an additive into yummy cookies and cakes. These are my absolute favorite 10 Clever Uses for Baking Soda!

10 Clever Uses for Baking Soda:

It’s amazing the number of things that can be done with this common and super-inexpensive household product. And the funny thing is, if you’re like me, you have a ton of soda laying around, but no idea how useful it can be.

Mild Itching Reducer: If you’ve got a little rash, sprinkling a teaspoon of baking soda on a damp wash cloth to make a compress can help keep the itching to a minimum. I totally wouldn’t do this for a big-deal rash, but for some mild itching, this can really knock it out.

Foot Soak: You can mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda in tub of warm water to create a fantastic foot soak. Not only does it hydrate, but it will also help to remove dead skin if you scrub a little. Using this technique also works in baths to rejuvenate the skin. Be sure to add the appropriate amount of baking soda for the water. (Roughly 1 table spoon per gallon of water.)

Cleaning: Sinks and clogged drains can be unclogged and cleaned with baking soda and vinegar. Pour a cup or two of baking soda down the drain, then pour like a half gallon of vinegar slowly in portions. The combination will foam-up and help loosen that icky grime stuck in there. The same mixture applies to the toilet. Clean tough stains by dumping in baking soda, and then vinegar, then allowing the combination to foam in the toilet. Let it to sit for a while, and then scrub as usual. The stains will be much easier to remove. Scrub pots and pans with a baking soda paste (made with the soda and water). The gritty paste will help break up burnt foods and even bust-up grease stains on metal items.

Laundry: Add ½ cup of baking soda to any load of laundry to not only improve colors, but also to boost your laundry detergent. Chemicals in baking soda react with detergent to double its cleaning power.

Deodorize: Baking soda can be used to deodorize just about anything: refrigerators, pantry’s, shoes, closets, cars, and anything else that you can think of. For larger areas, place an open box of baking soda somewhere, it will absorb all of the odors as is. For smaller areas such as shoes and inside smaller items sprinkle the baking soda, let it sit for a few hours or overnight and then vacuum it out or shake it out…You can even put a little in trashcan-bottoms to kill that ewwey-nasty stink.

Clean Fruits and Veggies: Fruit scrubs are great, but they can be kinda pricey. The simplest and one of the most effective ways to clean your fruits and veggies is to use baking soda. Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda to 1 cup water (or more if you’re cleaning a lot of apples, strawberries and other yummies) and use it as a scrub. You can also soak the fruits and veggies in a mix of water, vinegar and baking soda rather than scrubbing them.

Deodorant: If you are in a hurry, camping, or looking for a natural alternative to chemical filled deodorants, look no further! Baking soda acts as a natural deodorant and antiperspirant. It will primarily block you from sweating and will absorb what sweat does occur while deodorizing it in the process.

Crazy-Awesome Carpet Cleaner: This is my FAVORITE trick with soda. I like to sprinkle my entire carpet with this magically wonderful powder, wait 10-15 minutes and start vacuuming! I once accidentally set my dryer on fire (don’t ask) and it made my house so very stinky I was concerned I’d never be able to stand being in my living room…On time with the baking soda and vacuum, and my house smelled AWESOME!

About Jamie

Jamie Harrington is an author, mom, and all around fun person. She's completely pop culture obsessed. When she's not blogging, you'll find her gaming and watching silly movies. She's a total sucker for a silly movie.